Mental illness most discussed online

Mental illness is the most discussed Health problem online in India surpassing other major health problems, including heart diseases, AIDS, or malaria, a new survey said Tuesday.

According to the Asia Pacific Digital Health Index, depression, anxiety and stress are the most common health topics being discussed online.

This is followed by infectious diseases like AIDS, malaria and cholera in second place, and women`s health issues like menopause, birth control and fertility in the third place.

`Mental health is of significant concern in India, with depression, anxiety and stress being the most talked about online. This is understandable in a society undergoing rapid change where traditional family and social structures are breaking down and the certainties of the past, like job security, do not exist any more,` said Robert Holdheim, managing director for India of the Asia Pacific Digital Health Index.

Metabolic diseases, which is one of the biggest health risk faced by Indians, come only in the fourth position in the index, with topics like diabetes and obesity, while cardiovascular diseases is in the fifth position.

These are followed by skin diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases like acidity, respiratory diseases like asthma, and muscular diseases like arthritis.